Unfortunately it does feel like an FU

The sad fact is WOTC know that Star Wars pretty much sells itself so very little marketing is needed to sell the SWM. If they choose not to give us previews what can we do? Not buy their product? Yeah right, we're all gonna buy the new set regardless of previews

I have heard that argument before, but never from a WotC official (and I talk to them every chance I get). That mindset is total bull.

SWM does NOT sell itself. It probably sells a higher percentage than other WotC games because of the name brand factor to non-gamers, but that is not the same thing. WotC needs to care about the GAMING aspects of this product the same as they do for the others. And I think many of them do. I just think their hands are tied because the lawyers allowed LFL to bully them with the contract that was signed.



Those of us that are diehard gamers and SW fans, yes. There are a lot more casual SW fans that would enjoy this game, too, if there was more promotion.

I don't think it's unreasonable to expect any less treatment for game than any other WotC game gets.

Why would a WotC employee admit something like that? Besides, that decision would be made way above the level of the employees I'd image you get to talk to. I'm absolutely certain (because I, too speak to WotC employees every chance I get), that the promotional money is allocated to those endeavors that they think need it most; and SWM sells quite well without additional funds. Maybe now that they've had so many colossal failures they'll decide to put money into those projects that have already shown success ('sure things' as it were).
Bye Dreamblade and Hecatomb.

FU brought us our very first video comercial. It's clearly intended to bolster awareness among SW fans that might not be SWM fans.

That's a good start.

Boris, are you a Star Wars Role-Player?
When WOTC got the licence for Star Wars there was big backlash from D6 players. The then WOTC marketing manager for Star Wars RPG, Lisa (IIRC, I forget her surname), was the one person talking to the fans through message boards and even Jae's SW-RPG Mailing list to assure us that D20 was the way forward. She pretty much sold D20 RPG to the Star Wars role-players. Two weeks before it's release WOTC had a staff clearout and all the Star Wars marketing division were made redundant with the reason given that they didn't need to market Star Wars.

Wow, I hadn't heard that before, but of course the only SW RPG I have ever played is Saga Edition.

I also have to admit I misspoke before. As I was reminded, a WotC official did say to me once that they don't want to promote a game that sells itself. That was very early on though, and the comments that have come since in my random discussions are a complete 180 of that attitude.

If they want the game to grow (not just collectiblilty but actual gaming) they are going to have to do more promotion.

Agreed, but that is not (apparently) their current attitude.

I agree that Star Wars does need marketing. Heck, even Microsoft with their world domination of computing still spend millions promoting their products.

I know of miniature gamers who never heard of SWM before I mentioned it. Sarah Haines and Rachel Kirkman are the brand managers for SWM & RPG now (they were interviewed in Game Trade Magazine), so I guess they're the ones do the marketing. The more recent sets have had more publicity. A&E ran magazine adverts and even starwars.com isn't hiding away the minis articles like they did with the first few sets.

I'm a Star Wars role-player and SWM player/collector, so it does bug be sometimes that the gaming side of Star Wars is not that well supported. Gaming is slowly getting recognised as less of a geek hobby, but compare the marketing/availability/sales of the minis to the regular action figures and I'd say the action figures are leagues ahead.

The stigma must be stopped; these miniatures are worth so much more than action figures. If this game were advertised right I think it could double or triple in serious gamers.

I spend enough on this blasted game to count as two or three times myself. With the holidays coming up, and all the family get togethers and food, maybe I'll try to increase my bulk to two or three times myself to justify all the figs. An entire set for each sector of myself. With four more sets on the way, I should be able to make Jenny Craig drool with the thought that one day, I may give up gaming. Dream on Jenny, dream on.